This is the first verse (stanza) of the Dakshinamurthy Stotram (also called Dakshinamurti Ashtakam), composed by Adi Shankaracharya.
Viśvaṃ darpaṇa-dṛśyamāna-nagarī-tulyaṃ nijāntargataṃ
paśyann ātmani māyayā bahir ivodbhūtaṃ yathā nidrayā ।
yaḥ sāk��āt kurute prabodha-samaye svātmānam evādvayaṃ
tasmai śrī-guru-mūrtaye nama idaṃ śrī-dakṣiṇāmūrtaye
Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy, the Guru who is the embodiment of the Supreme Teacher (a form of Lord Shiva facing south).
He is the one who directly realizes and teaches that the entire universe is like a city reflected in a mirror — it appears to exist outside but is actually abiding within one’s own Self (Ātman). Due to the power of Māyā (illusion), it seems to manifest externally, just as a dream world appears real during sleep. Upon “waking up” (realizing the Truth through knowledge), one sees the non-dual reality of one’s own Self alone.
|| Shri Navnath Bhaktisar Katha Chapter 7 ||
Blessed by Goddess Kalika, Machindranath continued his journey and proceeded to the Hareshwar pilgrimage site in the North Konkan region. As he was about to circumambulate the mountain after taking a holy bath, he encountered a man holding a trident (Trishul), a small drum (Damaru), and other divine weapons. It was none other than Virbhadra, the son of Lord Shiva, in human form, who was also on his way to bathe in the Gada Tirtha.
They looked at each other, and Virbhadra asked Machindranath to introduce himself. When Machindranath replied that he belonged to the Nath Panth and that the Shringi (horn), sacred stories, and Mudras were their ornaments, Virbhadra mockingly sneered, "This sect of yours, which goes against the duties prescribed by the Vedas and lives with a heretical attitude, must have been founded by a supreme fool of a Guru! Who is he?"
Hearing his Guru insulted and the Nath sect condemned, Machindranath flew into a fierce rage. He retorted, "You who slander others…. your own Guru is fake! Just looking at you has made me impure, and now I will have to bathe all over again." Hearing this, Virbhadra prepared to shoot an arrow at Machindranath. Machindranath mocked his bravery, leading Virbhadra to hurl harsh abuses at him. Machindranath countered with equally stinging words.
Realizing Machindranath would not yield, Virbhadra unleashed the deadly Ardhachandra (half-moon) arrow from his bow. In response, Machindranath took a pinch of sacred ash, chanted the Vajramantra, and fired his own arrow, which instantly pulverized Virbhadra's arrow into dust. Virbhadra then invoked the Nagastra (serpent weapon), to which Machindranath countered by hurling a Rudraksha infused with the Garudastra (eagle weapon). When Virbhadra unleashed the Vatastra (wind weapon), Machindranath countered with the Parvatastra (mountain weapon).
In this manner, both warriors began deploying increasingly powerful cosmic weapons against each other. Finally, Virbhadra invoked the terrifying Kalastra (weapon of time/death). As a counter-challenge, Machindranath drew upon the power of the Primordial Illusion (Mula Maya) and created a weapon capable of absolute annihilation (Pralaya). Fearing that the entire universe was about to be destroyed, the divine trinity (Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva) instantly manifested on the battlefield.
The gods pleaded with Machindranath, saying, "The Kali Yuga has only just begun; there is a long time left before it ends. Do not bring about the ultimate destruction right now." Heeding their words, Machindranath invoked the Vasnikastra to withdraw the destructive energy, leaving behind only the creative inspiration of Brahma, and restoring the balance of the five great elements.
Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva then took the hands of Virbhadra and Machindranath, joining them together in a pact of friendship. Praising Machindranath's extraordinary valor and unmatched mastery over celestial weapons, Virbhadra humbly asked, "Tell me, what wish of yours can I fulfill?" He openly admitted that Machindranath was the very first warrior to have ever defeated him in battle.
1/ 🧵
Since the classes will commence when Brihaspati enters Karkata, I am planning to do lots of Guru based stotrams such as:
1. Guru ashtakam
2. Todakaashtakam
3. Dakshina murthy stotram. (Teaching this is a dream for me)
4. Navagraha stotram.
Along with some other powerful stotrams.
I intend to take this class beyond 3 months.
In the same class I will teach Vishnu Sahasranamam and Lalita sahasranamam and other tougher higher shlokas as the learning aptitude for kids keeps growing.
Hoping this will turn to reality soon. 🙏
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@GANNTRADER2 In the forces it’s common to have a standard layout where shoes are specifically under bed. Suggested my entry mate avoid shoes, broom or any heavy objects. His night mares have stopped immediately. Vastu matters!
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